Urethroscope or endoscope.



F. CERBO.

URETHROSCOPE 0R ENDOSCOPE,

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. I9I4.

Patented May 11, 1915.

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FERDINANDO CERBO, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

URETHROSCOPE OE ENDOSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed December 10, 1914. Serial No. 876,552.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINANDO CnRBo, a subject of Italy, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Urethroscopes or Endoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to an improvement in urethroscopes and more particularly to an improvement in the urethroscopes patented to me September 12, 1911, No.1,003,232 and November 12, 1912, No. 1,044,348.

The improved instrument forming the subject of this application relates, as above stated, to urethroscopes or endescopesand analogous tubular instruments adapted to be inserted into the urethra or other channels, said instruments being provided at their lower or distal end with means for temporarily and interruptedly dilating the urethral or other passage and as employed by physicians, for the purpose of making visual examinations as well as treating the urethral channel or other cavities, and to facilitate the use of other instruments in the urethral passage or other channels.

There are still disadvantages or objections to instruments or urethroscopes of the character above referred to; that is to say, they support on the lower or distal end a plurality of dilators jointed to the outer tube and laterally and angularly movable, said dilators being provided each with a back terminal or hook to form a hinge pivot with the outer tube and an inwardly extending extension or finger on their inner face to engage the inner tube through a corresponding opening in the end of the inner tube. The outer tube has a longitudinal inside groove for an electric wire whose terminal is at the hinge joint of the dilators. An electric 1am is inclosed in a metal casing on the inner si e of a dilator and the electrical contact is made between the lamp and the terminal of the wire at the hinge pivot of the dilator. Moving the inner tube downwardly causes the dilators to swing outward or open and energizes the electric lamp, and moving the' inner tube in the reverse direction causes the dilators to close and cuts out the lamp; the result being that the dilators will be sharply angular and distressful on account of a comparatively long distension of the dilated tissues without any benefit whether relating to visual examina tions or treatment, because the lower direct area of vision obtained by the lower ends or apices of the dilators is only required for all practical purposes. The depressions projecting inside of the inner tube causes partial loss of vision field, the projecting fingers are a material impediment to the free use of applicators, being liable to catch cotton swabs, or to the free use of other treatments or operating instruments. The electric contact between the wire terminal and the lamp at the hinge is impractical, as the contact of liquid at this point will cause dispersion of the electric current and the light will go out and finally insanitary conditions at the hinge joint of the dilators are detrimental and the instrument is costly to manufacture.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of a urethroscope whereby a more simple, practical, less expensive and self contained instrument is produced and in which the disadvantages or objections above referred to are wholly eliminated.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of a urethroscope, said urethroscope having details of construction as will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved urethroscope, somewhat enlarged, showing the dilators in their normal or closed position in full lines and in an expanded position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a still further enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l with the central portion broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial, longitudinal central sectional view, still further enlarged, showing the dilator arms normally closed and the levers for opening and closing the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the distal end portion of the inner tube. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the distal end of the inner tube. Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal detail sectional view showing the electrical connections for the lamp and the removable shell used over the lamp when forceps operations on foreign bodies are to be performed, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal detail sectional view showing the electrical connection for the battery.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents my improved urethroscope as a whole, the same consisting essentially of the relatively stationary outer tube 9, the non-revoluble but longitudinally movable inner tube 10 in circumferential and longitudinal contact .with the outer tube, as shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of laterally movable comparatively short dilator arms 11 11, forming an integral extension of the end of the outer tube, an operating member 12, a removable telescope member 13 on the head end and an electric light bulb 14 in the inner or dilator end of the instrument. All of the above named elements, so far as possible may be made of German silver or other suitable material.

a The diameter and length ofthe outer tube 9 may be of any suitable dimensions, such for example as will permit the instrument to be readily inserted into the urethral passage.

The end portion of the outer .tube which may be termed the outer or head end is provided with a slightly-enlarged cylindrical head 15, having internal screw-threads 16, a short internal longitudinal slot 17, a right angle tubular boss 18 having an inlet duct 19, and a right angle tubular boss 20 for the electrical connection of an electric battery. The inner tube has an externally screwthreaded head end 21, a bearing ring 22, a spline 23, which enters the slot 17 in the head and while allowing longitudinal movement of the inner tube prevents said inner tube from turning on its axis; an elongated inlet opening 24 in the side underneath the inlet duct 19, a plurality of openings 25 25, adjacent the inner end of the tube and a groove 26 which extends lengthwise in the outside of the inner tube from the-boss 20 to the inner end of the tube for the small tube carrying the electric light wire.

The inner end of the outer tube 9 is formed into a plurality of comparatively short dilator arms 11 11, which are formed integral with the end of the tube. These dilator arms may be straight'or curved and when closed form a cone shaped apex or inner end on the instrument. The free or apex ends of the dilator arms may be slightly enlarged or the movement of the inner tube may be such, so that, when thedilator arms are in their closed positions a longitudinal space is formed between the adjacent edges or sides of each pair of dilator arms. Aminiature ring 27, is secured to the inner face of each dilator arm 11 and a lever arm 28 is pivotally secured at one end to the ring 27 and at its opposite end to the end of the inner tube 10, through an opening 25 in the end of the tube, thereby operatively connecting the dilator arms 11 11 with the inner tube, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The operating member 12 is in the form of an externally screw-threaded sleeve-in screwthreaded engagement with the internal screw-threads 16 in-the head 15 and has a knurled flange 29. The operating member of the folds of the cavity,

wise, when'through the "12 is rotatably secured to the head end of the inner tube 10 by the bearing ring 22 and a screw-threaded collar 30, as shown in Fig. 2.

The telescope member 13 is in the form of a short tube 31 internally screw-threaded and adapted to screw over the screw-threaded end 21 of the inner tube 10, an enlarged end portion 32 carrying a magnifying lens screw-threaded metal end 37 which screws into a screw-threaded end 38 of a small metal tube 39 which extendsfrom the lamp 14 to the boss .20, in the groove 26, in the inner tube 10.

An insulated wire 40 extends through the tube 39 one end 41 being secured in an insulating block 42 in a position to form an electric contactwith the 'contactpoint 36 of the lamp and theother end 43 being secured in an insulating block 44 in the boss 20 in a position to form an electrical contact with one pole 45 of an electric battery 46, the other pole 47 being formed by the metal screw+threaded 'end of the battery which screws into the boss 20, the metal of the instrument forming the other electrical connection back to the lamp. Only the necessary portion ofthe battery 46 is shown, to illustrate the electrical connection, the'balance of the'battery being broken away. A metal light'casing 48, open at the ends is used over the lamp only when forceps operations are to beper formed.

By means of this improved construction the urethroscope when inserted, as in use, may be easily and quickly manipulated so as to accurately'and positively operate the dilator arms simultaneously to the desired extent, thereby correspondingly enlarging that portion of :the urethral passage and temporarily producing-a complete dilation preparatory to examinations, forceps operation, irrigation or I other operations.

In the use of my improved urethroscope the instrument first sterilizedis inserted into the-urethral passage or other channels to the extent desired followed by turning the operiting-member '12 to the right thereby correspondingly'moving the inner tube 10 lengthlever arms 28 28 on the end of the tube connected with the dilator arms, the dilator arms are expanded or opened as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The electric light 14 is now lighted by turningthe battery 46, and bringing the contact pole 45 into electrical contact with the end 43 of the wire 40, thereby closing the circuit. The physician may then make a visual examination or inspection of the thus acted upon parts. When irrigating, the remedial liquid flows through the fitting 35, the inlet duct 19, the opening 24, through the bore of the inner tube 10 to the enlarged portion of the urethra, then flowing back through the bore of the inner tube, as in the case of retrojector and escaping out through the outlet pipe 84, the remedial liquid is thus kept entirely out of contact with the external portions of the human body. At the completion of the operations, the battery 46 is turned in a reverse direction thereby breaking the contact between the pole 45 and the wire end 43, and putting out the lamp 14. The member 12 is then turned to the left thereby retracting the inner tube and bringing the dilator arms 11 11 back to their normal closed positions. The instrument is then removed from the urethra or other channel. The telescope member 13 may be easily removed by unscrewing the same from the end of the inner tube 10 for the insertion of other instruments into the urethroscope. The dilator or apex end of the instrument is now externally smooth and free from joints, the electrical connections to the lamp are positive in their operations and a more sanitary and perfect operating instrument is produced than has heretofore been done.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new: V

1. In a urethroscope, an outer tube, a pinrality of comparatively short dilator arms formed integral with the outer tube and forming when closed a cone-shaped. end on the outer tube, each dilator arm being so shaped that when in the closed position a longitudinal space is formed between each pair of dilator arms, an inner tube in contact for its entire length with the outer tube, means for operatively connecting the apex end of the inner tube with each dilator arm, means for holding the inner tube from turning on its axis and means for reciprocating the inner tube.

2. In a urethroscope, an outer tube, a plurality of comparatively short dilator arms formed integral with the apex end of the outer tube, said dilator arms having a pointed end, a comparatively wide central portion and a comparatively narrow base, an inner tube in surface contact with the outer tube, a lever arm operatively connected with each dilator arm and with the apex end of the inner tube, means for holding the inner tube from turning on its axis and means for reciprocating the inner tube. I

3. In a urethroscope, an elongated outer tube, a plurality of comparatively short dila tor arms formed integral with the apex end of theouter tube, an elongated inner tube in surface contact with the outer tube, a ring on the inner face of each dilator arm, a lever arm operatively connected with each ring and with the apex end of the inner tube through an opening in the end of theinner tube, means for holding the inner tube from turning on its axis and means for reciproeating the inner'tube.

4. In a urethroscope, an elongated outer tube, a plurality of comparatively short dilator arms formed integral with the apex end of the outer tube, an elongated inner tube in surface contact with the outer tube. a lever arm operatively connected with each dilator arm and with the apex end of the inner tube, a longitudinal groove in the outside of the inner tube, a boss having a screwthreaded hole in the head end of the outer tube, a small metal tube in the longitudinal groove in the inner tube, an insulated wire in the small metal tube and terminating at one end in an insulated contact point in the boss and at the other or apex end in an in sulated contact point, an electric lamp, means for detachably securing the lamp to the apex end of the small metal tube, a detachable metal casing for the electric lamp,

a battery adapted to screw into the boss and form an electrical contact with the wire and with the boss, means for holding the inner tube from turning on its axis and means for reciprocating the inner tube.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINANDO CERBO,

Witnesses:

G. DE Bnunnior s, MICHAEL FISHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents. Washingt n, 1). G. 

